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Sundin ponders life without Leafs

Mats Sundin has opened the door to playing somewhere other than with the Toronto Maple Leafs next season.

By Paul HunterSPORTS REPORTER

Thu., May 29, 2008

PITTSBURGH–Mats Sundin has opened the door to playing somewhere other than with the Toronto Maple Leafs next season.

And it may be the Leafs' management follies that ultimately push him through it.

"My dream and the best scenario would be if I ended my career as a Toronto Maple Leaf. That hasn't changed. But I'm not going to say that I'm not going to play anywhere else either, because I'm not really in control of that," Sundin said after an NHL awards ceremony here yesterday.

"It feels like my decision is going to come after there's going to be some other stuff going on with the Toronto Maple Leafs and I'll see what happens there. I'll have to make my decision after that.

"I do think I have a lot of different options I can explore."

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It was typical Sundin, a statement but with qualifiers and vagaries and, as always, layered with an unwavering loyalty to the Leafs.

But Sundin seemed more willing than ever yesterday to publicly examine the reality of the Leafs' situation, and the possibility of moving on, after he picked up the Mark Messier Leadership Award at a luncheon.

He said he wants a firm understanding of what is going on with the Leafs' front office before he signs, if he signs, in Toronto. He left the impression that if he doesn't like what he hears, he'll be gone.

"I'd like to know what's going to happen in the general manager position, whether Cliff (Fletcher) is going to be in charge this year or is there a new guy going to be coming in? I do think that's going to be important," he said. "Obviously, what's going to happen in Toronto is going to be very interesting. And it's going to affect my decision in the future."

Telling, too, was the time frame he is now putting on his decision about whether he will return to Toronto for a 14th season. The expectation had been that he would let the Leafs know his intentions in early June. Now, he's saying it could be another four to six weeks before he decides.

Not only does that give more time to Toronto to sort out its front-office confusion, it also takes Sundin into the free-agency period that begins July 1. That's when his $5.5 million contract will expire.

The word in NHL circles is that Sundin's friends and his agent, J.P. Barry, have been urging the 37-year-old at least explore the possibilities as an unrestricted free agent, even if he does ultimately re-sign with the Leafs. Montreal and Detroit, two teams that pursued the centre at the trade deadline, are thought to be very interested.

When told of Sundin's new time frame yesterday, Fletcher theorized that Sundin "maybe wants to have a look to see what is out there in free agency, which is his right."

Sundin, who has been at home in Sweden, plans on being in Toronto until Sunday and Fletcher is counting on sitting down with him before he flies home. Sundin, however, seemed unaware of any meeting and said hadn't talked to the interim GM since the end of the season.

That might be a communication breakdown as Fletcher said he recently spoke to Barry and the agent is going to arrange the get-together.

When told of Sundin's arm's-length approach to a future in Toronto until the team's management situation is clarified, Fletcher said there are things he will be able to share with his captain that aren't for public consumption.

"That why I think it's important that we have this meeting," said Fletcher. "I'm sure there are also things he'll tell me that he wouldn't express in the media."

Sundin, who is getting married this summer, said he won't come back in a supporting role; he wants to be a key contributor with the Leafs or elsewhere.

"I felt very strong on the ice this year and I felt I had as good of a year as I've had in my past 10 years, maybe. Maybe that would be an argument for me to play next year. But I don't know. I don't have a decision on that made yet," Sundin said.

"I think, personally, I want to be able to play at the level that I have the last little while. ... (I'd) find it tough for me to have a smaller role on the team, too, to continue my career. So we'll see what happens."

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